GAPP Knowledge Center
Behavioral support services under GAPP
Some children enrolled in GAPP have behavioral or developmental needs alongside their medical complexity. GAPP covers certain behavioral support services in the home — and Core Health Group Corp. coordinates care to address both the clinical and behavioral dimensions of each child's needs.
Behavioral Support Within GAPP
GAPP covers behavioral support services that are documented as medically necessary and included in the child's plan of care. Behavioral support in the home context includes:
- Behavioral monitoring and de-escalation support during nursing or personal care visits
- Documentation of behavioral patterns and triggers for the treatment team
- Implementation of behavior support strategies as directed by the child's behavioral health provider
- Coordination with the child's psychologist, behavior analyst, or therapist
- Support for families in implementing home behavioral strategies
How Behavioral Needs Interact With Nursing Care
Children with complex behavioral needs require caregivers who are trained and prepared. Core Health Group Corp.:
- Reviews each child's behavioral history and current behavior support plan (BSP) during intake
- Assigns nurses and PCAs with experience in behavioral support
- Provides internal training on the specific child's behavioral protocols
- Maintains open communication with the child's behavioral health team
- Documents behavioral events and shares data with the treatment team
Conditions Commonly Involving Behavioral Support
Core Health Group Corp. has experience supporting children with a wide range of diagnoses that involve behavioral needs alongside medical complexity:
Frequently Asked Questions
Does GAPP pay for ABA therapy?
No. Applied behavior analysis (ABA) is covered under Georgia Medicaid behavioral health benefits, not through GAPP. However, a child can receive both GAPP services and ABA through their Georgia Medicaid benefits simultaneously.
What if my child’s behavior makes nursing care difficult?
Contact us. Core Health Group Corp. makes every effort to assign nursing staff experienced in the specific behavioral profile of each child. We also work with the child’s behavioral health team to ensure caregivers are trained on the current behavior support plan.
Can behavioral support hours be added to an existing GAPP authorization?
Behavioral support components are typically incorporated into the nursing plan of care rather than added as a separate authorization category. Core Health Group Corp. documents behavioral needs as part of the overall clinical picture.
Do nurses need special training to work with children with autism?
Core Health Group Corp. provides orientation on each child’s behavioral history and support plan to all assigned staff. We also seek staff with prior experience in pediatric behavioral support when matching caregivers to specific patients.
What resources exist for families of GAPP children with behavioral needs?
Georgia has several programs supporting families of children with behavioral and developmental needs, including DBHDD resources and family support organizations. Core Health Group Corp. can provide referrals and help connect families to appropriate community supports.
Free Eligibility Screening
Ready to get your child the care they need?
Core Health Group Corp. guides families through every step of the GAPP enrollment process at no cost. Contact us today to begin your free eligibility screening.